Mayan Weddings in Cancun

Cancun is reinventing itself into a more upscale vacation destination, thanks in part to a USD $2.5 billion investment into local infrastructure and tourism development. One of the region’s key new attractions is the Mayan wedding ceremony. The area of Cancun and Puerto Morelos is a popular destination for weddings, hosting nearly 5000 weddings each year. There are domestic and international specialized wedding planners in the area that take care of everything from legal requirements to the planning of flights for the guests. Cancun can provide everything visitors need: bilingual judges, priests from all main religions, a huge variety of musical groups, catering services, florists, photographers, couture designers and venues that can host any number of guests from just 2 to 6000.

Mayan weddings are led by a local shaman and are held in the native Mayan language. The service follows the actual traditions used by the ancient Mayan. The bride and groom are presented to the seven directions--up to the superior cosmic energy (masculine), down to the Mother Earth (feminine), to the four winds (north, south, east, west) using the Mayan order and names, to the guardians of the location where the ceremony is held, and inside to the center of their own hearts, the temple of love.

An altar is made with flowers at four points with an arch and offerings on top. Four candles are lit on the arch. Four candles will also be lit on the four corners of the table and one candle stands in the table's center. The candles represent the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west) and the four gods that sustain the Mayan cosmology. The central flame is dedicated to man and god (Mother Earth and cosmos). The priest has the privilege of lighting this final flame, but can decide to let somebody else do it.

The couple will give each other symbolic gifts. The groom will give corn and cacao seeds. In return, the bride will give tortillas and powder of cacao. Symbolically, a woman will turn the raw material given by her future husband into food. Mayan music with pre-Hispanic instruments is performed before and during the ceremony.
Participants and guests can wear their own clothes, but they should dress in white or cream colors. Ties and traditional western wedding clothing are not suitable for the wedding couple, just simple dress in a simple style. Shoes will not be worn by the wedding couple during the ceremony and are optional for guests who want to fully receive the ceremony's energy. Being barefoot lets you have close contact with Mother Earth.

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Mexico's Best Beaches

From the LA Times -- June, 2008

Cancún: In terms of sheer beauty, Mexico's best beaches are in Cancún and along the Yucatán's Quintana Roo coast, extending south almost all the way to the Belizean border. The powdery, white-sand beaches boast water the color of a Technicolor dream; it's so clear you can see through to the coral reefs below. Cancún offers the widest assortment of luxury beachfront hotels, with more restaurants, nightlife, and activities than any other resort destination in the country.

Tulum: Fronting some of the best beaches on Mexico's Caribbean coast, Tulum's small palapa hotels offer guests a little slice of paradise far from crowds and megaresorts. The bustling town lies inland; at the coast, things are quiet and will remain so because all these hotels are small and must generate their own electricity. If you can pull yourself away from the beach, nearby are ruins to explore and a vast nature preserve.

Isla Mujeres: There's only one small beach here -- Playa Norte -- but it's superb. From this island, you can dive El Garrafón reef, snorkel offshore, and take a boat excursion to the Isla Contoy national wildlife reserve, which features great birding and a fabulous, uninhabited beach.

Playa del Carmen: "Playa" is Mexico's hip beach destination with a dash of third-world chic. Above all, it's easy and low key. You walk to the beach, you walk back to the hotel, you walk to one of the many good restaurants. Next day, you repeat. The beaches are white sand; the water is clear blue and perfect for swimming. If you feel the urge to be active, not far away are ancient Maya ruins, Cozumel, and the megaresort of Cancún, offering all the variety that you might want in a beach vacation.

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Unique Mayan Ceremony Experience

From Irene Butler at "The Province"

The narrow road through the tangle of jungle was lit only by our van headlights. I, along with six other Mayan-culture enthusiasts and our guide Claudia, were on our way to the Mayan village of Dos Palmas to take part in a sacred Temazcal (sweat-lodge) ceremony -- to be reborn as warriors.

Dos Palmas is located in the Riviera Maya area (south of Cancun). Maya is still spoken and traditional religious rituals have continued alongside Spanish-instilled Catholicism -- an ideal setting to gain insight into ancient Mayan beliefs.

Upon our arrival, Claudia led us to a flower-filled altar. Polo, the village's esteemed shaman (of 95 years) greeted us. "He is asking the gods to guide us in cleansing our body and spirit," translated Claudia.

Polo's son commenced the rituals. Conch shells were sounded, asking permission from the gods to enter the Temazcal.

From the south, we summoned the serpent, representing water, to make us flow as one with Mother Nature. The eagle was called from the east for the breath of life. From the west we hailed the deer, symbolizing the Earth. From the north we called upon the jaguar, denoting fire, to give us the spirit of a warrior.

Shedding the outerwear covering our bathing suits, we entered the sweat lodge, positioning ourselves on the palm-leaf-covered floor.

Red-hot lava rocks were placed in a central pit. The door was closed. In the blackness, the shaman threw water infused with herbs onto the glowing rocks. I became drenched in the blasting billows of sanative steam and breathed in the soothing warmth.

An hour passed, with the shaman sharing inspirational messages of shedding all our worries and of being reborn from the womb of the Temazcal. In closing, he called out, "Shout, laugh, yell to release your tension." Not one of us uttered a "boo."

A scream shattered the silence, followed by my own shocked yelp as cool water, tossed by the shaman onto the upper wall, rained down on my head.

Laughter interspersed yells around the circle until his pail was empty. Needless to say, there was a lot of good-humored "releasing."

With buoyed spirits, we followed a path to a dimly lit cavern for a dip in a cenote (sinkhole). Bats flitted among stalactites. After the first breath-catching moments, I found the water temperature both comfortable and reviving.

We did not need to be called twice to the feast prepared for us by the village women.

Biding farewell to our esteemed hosts, the jungle swallowed us up once more. I knew I would forever relish the thrill of experiencing the ritualistic rebirth of a Mayan warrior, though my heavy lids and the soggy faces around me indicated a bunch of very tired warriors indeed.

Dos Palmas is an ecotourism project, where tourism, environmental preservation and community are developed together.

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Acanto Condos Featured in ONI Offshore

Reprinted With Permission From "Caribbean Property and Lifestyles":

Mexican Riviera Luxury Hotel Condos at 90% Occupancy

What happens when a successful boutique five star Hotel running at 90% occupancy since 2004 decides to go 'luxury condo?' Well, it means that each private owner of one of these luxury condos also receives revenues at 90% occupancy. Year in, year out. And 100% occupancy if the new owner wants to spend some time in Mexico as a bonus to himself for his wise financial investment. Frommer's says "In my view, this property is the most romantic in Playa del Carmen. There is intimacy and drama and even a sense of isolation. Seven stylish suites endowed with color and texture encircle a pool and softly lit courtyard." We agree: the property has style, sophistication, a proven history and is perfectly placed in the heart of the Mexican Riviera.

When Matt Craig "the owner" asked us to look at Acanto Hotel Condos our two concerns were the difficulties for expats buying in Mexico, and the dense development, dare I say overdevelopment, along the Mexican Riviera.

The initial question was quickly put to rest when we reviewed the Mexican government's laws pertaining to nonresident ownership of real estate which have relaxed considerably in the last few years.
The second we realized was a positive for anyone looking to capitalize on an existing well-proven product, with all of the infrastructure and easy access that goes along with this type of development. This is a good package for those looking for a return on $312,000 as a starting price on the smallest condo.

If you are traveling to Mexico with a view to investing, we recommend you take a second look at Acanto Hotel in Playa del Carmen. You will find it in the middle of the only real Caribbean Riviera, where the beaches and reefs are endless, the entertainment is international, the gringos are friendly and where one señor's taco can be another hombre's tostada!

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Temptation Resort: Hard to Resist

Introduced to the market at the end of 2007, this cleverly named resort seems to conjure images of the anything-goes “Temptation Island” reality show and the similarity doesn’t necessarily stop there. The 384-room upscale adults-only all-inclusive beachfront hotel is known for its lively atmosphere, topless swimming pool, adult-themed activities program and sexy vibe throughout. It is NOT a “lifestyle” resort, though, and it retains a sense of class and even elegance through its facilities, staff and accommodations.

The resort is located in the northern end of Cancun’s hotel zone, just 10-15 minutes from downtown Cancun or the main entertainment and nightlife district at Punta Cancun. The beach behind the resort is powdery white sand, leading to a calm waterfront, ideal for relaxing in and around the ocean.

The stylish rooms have balconies with ocean or garden views, plus modern and stylish décor themed after the forbidden apple. A red “sexy light” glows from behind the headboards while dramatic silver sculptures, illuminated bedside tables and plush bedding give rooms a romantic vibe. Each room has satellite TV, phone and clock radio. Some first-floor rooms also have a terrace Jacuzzi. Minibars are stocked daily with sodas and a couple beers.

The main Embarcadero restaurant serves three buffet meals a day. Bellavista serves poolside breakfasts and Caribbean dinners by reservation. Margarita’s Snack Bar & Grill is open for continental breakfast, late lunch and late-night snacks until 5am. The Village Wok offers a la carte Asian cuisine for dinner. The Tex-Mex dinner restaurant is open by reservation on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Il Piacere serves Italian dinners by reservation every day but Wednesday.

Bar options include a couple of swim-up bars, a sports bar and a highly popular patio bar that serves as the main meeting point in the evenings. The Nice Shoes Disco hosts nightly shows in the evening, ranging from Karaoke Night to sexy dancing shows to a lingerie show. Brief full nudity is allowed at some of the shows.
There are three pools, each with a distinct atmosphere—sports, relaxing and topless.
Poolside activities at the topless pool (or “Heartbeat Pool,” as it’s called) include a naughty joke contest, water volleyball, exotic dance lessons, striptease classes and other games designed to get guests to interact. The use of kayaks and other watersports equipment is included in the rate. Nightly bar tours are offered for a fee, including one-way transportation.

There is an on-site beauty parlor, jewelry shop, travel agency, car rental desk and a couple of fee-based Internet workstations.

The resort appeals to a wide variety of guests, but most tend to be couples and groups of friends in the 30-45 age range. They are upwardly mobile and interested in a wide range of recreational activities. The tropical grounds, convivial atmosphere and non-stuffy ambiance make the resort a great vacation getaway.

Rates start at about $140 per night, per person, based on double occupancy.

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Riviera Maya Tourism To Grow 10%+ This Year

Playa del Carmen -- News of even more flights scheduled to arrive at the Cancun International Airport starting this summer indicates that tourism to Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya will increase between 10% and 12%, according to local officials.

Even with the slowing economy in the U.S., 2008 is expected to be a record year, in terms of total arrivals, occupancy levels and revenue. The new flights are mostly from European destinations, including Barcelona, Portugal and Madrid.

Travel from Canada is expected to increase as well, making officials very optimistic about the increased projections.

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Cancun Turns 38 Years Old

Cancun -- On April 20, the resort town of Cancun will turn only 38 years since established, but is currently the most important tourist destination in Mexico and one of the most important in the world.

It is a successful reality that no one would have ever imagined when the island of Cancun – Kaank’uun in the Mayan language – was inhabited by only a small group of Mayan fisherman. Back then, no one dreamed that in just 38 years it would offer international tourism 146 hotels with over 28,000 rooms, approximately 453 restaurants, 12 shopping centers and 13 golf courses.

Cancun’s story began in 1968 when Bank of Mexico was looking for new ways to bring foreign currency into the country. It commissioned a group of economists to explore 11,000 miles of the nation’s coasts to find the most attractive location in which to develop tourism, based on climate, water temperature and beautiful scenery. The computer picked Cancun as one of those special places.
During the 70s, there was hardly any international tourism in Mexico. With Cancun came freeways, airports, ports and the entire country’s tourist attractions moved to the next level. International investors and tour operators set their sights on the new territory and transformed it into the phenomenon that it is today, making it the favorite destination of more than three million national and international tourists each year.

Cancun annually brings a considerable amount of foreign currency into the country and it is a direct or indirect source of employment for approximately 800,000 people. It has the second largest airport in Mexico with 54,729 annual flights and it has become one of the hubs with the highest number of direct international flights in Latin America.

Cancun aims to continue elevating the quality and diversity of its tourist attractions, by adding sports, ecological and adventure attractions to its white sand beaches, archaeological attractions and famous 15-mile boulevard.

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Nightlife Profile -- Coco Bongo Cancun

Located across from the Cancun Convention Center, in the heart of the city's party zone, Coco Bongo is Cancun's premier party spot. But to call Coco Bongo a bar would be woefully inadequate; to even call it a nightclub is somewhat of a joke. It's more like an entertainment center, where travelers from around the world congregate to celebrate life and pretend it's Spring Break all year long.

There's often a line wrapping around the corner, but it goes fast, and you can start making friends before you even get inside. Cover charge varies by night, ranging from $30 to $60 USD for entry and open bar. Once inside, you'll find a central bar area ringed by stadium-like seating, an upper deck with another bar and more seating, and an elevated stage, where most of the club's nonstop action happens.

Accommodating up to 1800 guests, it's amazing how frequently the place gets packed. Even when the other clubs in the area are hurting for business, Coco Bongo is always a party. Throughout the night, one show after another is presented, each one good enough to headline anywhere else in town. From celebrity impersonators and high-flying acrobats to live rock music and comic book reenactments, there's always something happening on stage or hanging from the rafters above the main bar.

Between acts, DJ music fills the room while bar-top conga lines, audio-visual displays, cascading soap bubbles, balloon drops, streamers, confetti and air-blasts keep the crowd energized. The atmosphere is very convivial, with a strong spirit of communal fun. Recent celebrity guests include actors Benicio del Toro and Daman Wayans, plus former NBA bad-boy and famed partier Dennis Rodman.

Insider's Tip: Though most of the action happens on the ground level, with a clear view of the stage, head to the top level, stage-left and snag a spot along the rail for a while. From this vantage point, you can see the entire club as well as the back-stage preparations and the door leading to the dressing room. It's a great spot to see the inner workings of the place and helps lead to an even greater appreciation of what it takes to keep a club of 1500 revelers whipped into a frenzy all night long.

Doors open at around 10pm, with midnight to 2am being the prime hours. Depending on the night and the crowd, the party can go until sun-up.

If you're interested in staying within walking distance to Coco Bongo, consider the very upscale Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, tourist class NH Krystal Cancun, or the moderately priced Carisa y Palma Condos, all within stumbling distance.

Even if you're staying in Playa del Carmen or elsewhere in the Riviera Maya, going to Coco Bongo should be part of your travel itinerary. Though cultural purists may cringe at the notion, for travelers to the Mexican Caribbean, Coco Bongo as much of a must-see as the ruins of Tulum or Chichen Itza.

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Longest Underground River Found in Riviera Maya

PLAYA DEL CARMEN -- Cave divers near Playa del Carmen have discovered what may be the world's longest underground river, connecting two cave systems with a waterway at least 95 miles long.

A group of foreign divers exploring the area have yet to name the stretch, but believe it could be connected to two other major systems, adding more than 125 miles to its length.

"It's a bit of the Star Trek syndrome: the thrill of exploration, to go where no one has gone before," said diver Steve Bogaerts, who helped find the underground river.

Prior to the discovery, the Palawan underground river in the Philippines and Vietnam's Son Trach River vied for the record as the world's longest.

Entering a cave like this is extremely dangerous and can only be done by expert cave divers, but snorkelers and scuba divers can witness similar underground rivers and cave systems for themselves at other lagoons and "cenotes" in the region. One of the most popular -- and most dramatic -- is located at Hidden Worlds Cenote Park, which was the location for a recent IMAX film about cave diving.

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Do You Have Margarita Mind?

Margarita Mind is a dangerous disease and it afflicts American, Canadians and European real estate buyers equally and without mercy.

How do you catch it?
It happens when you arrive in Mexico, checkbook in hand, with the hungry look of the besotted tourist that envisions a life hanging in a hammock on a white sand beach in front of your little dream cottage.

How do you know you have it?
When you start saying things like: “I met this guy in a bar; he has a cute house he wants to show me.” Or: “My friends say there are ways around the Mexican real estate laws”. And here is a real danger sign: “But I LOVE the house…I don’t care about the problems with the title or water or beach rights.” If you recognize these symptoms early enough, you can save yourself a lot of money or heartache.

Margarita mind can be fatal; I am not making this up; a financially comfortable American hired an English-speaking builder to build his dream home on the beach with its own water treatment, desalination plant, satellite Internet systems and a to-die-for view One small problem, the builder put the house on the wrong lot! The neighbor was very appreciative of the American for so beautifully improving his property. A proper survey using GPS points would have saved the day.

If you recognize these symptoms early enough, you can save yourself.

Here’s how:
Stop! Think! And answer this question: would you enter into a real estate transaction in the old country without all of the facts, without a survey or appraisal, without a written contract, without double checking the rules? Of course you wouldn’t! So why do it in a foreign country where your government has no ability to right any wrongs?

Real estate laws in Mexico are not very different from in the U.S., Canada or Europe. However, real estate agents in Mexico are not licensed. And while the vast majority are honest ethical people, the few predators are the ones you need to be wary of.

Mexico wants and actively seeks the foreign investment dollar (or Euro) and the government has put practices and systems in place to help and protect the foreign real estate buyer. In the “restricted Zones of Mexico,” 100 miles from a border or 50 miles from a coast, foreign buyers obtain their properties in a fideicomiso (feeday co meeso). The fideicomiso closely resembles a living trust and gives the foreigner peace of mind, clean title and the right to sell, bequeath, mortgage and improve the property. And it has a 50 year life that can be renewed ad infinitum in 50 year chunks.

Closing costs and fees are significantly higher in Mexico than in the U.S. and Canada, lower then in France though. Many buyers, taking the advice of uninformed friends or misguided agents make foolish decisions in order to save a few thousand dollars upfront.

My cardinal rule for buyers is to “Do it right the first time, pay the proper fees now, or pay BIG time later when you sell or are caught in a routine audit.”
And with the advent of American style long-term mortgages and the safety requirements built into the mortgage industry (well, down in Mexico, anyway) it is safe and sensible for foreigners to use a mortgage. Not only are foreigners able to obtain significant financing needs for their Mexican dream home, but securing a mortgage, using a well-reputable cross-border mortgage lender, ensures that your close is legal and done properly. Content provided by Conficasa Mortgage International, a pioneering provider of cross-border financing of Mexican properties for Americans and Canadian dreamers, with more than 10 years of experience, ensuring a smooth lending and closing process throughout all stages of the complex cross-border financing process. The U.S.-based company has offices in Houston and Chicago and maintains close partnerships in Mexico resort areas. For more information, contact (281) 598-7060.

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La Zebra Offers a Taste of Tulum's Past

TULUM, July 2007 -- With pristine white sand beaches, overgrown jungle cloaking mysterious ancient ruins, and a special, laidback uniqueness all its own, it's no surprise that Tulum has tipped the radar of trend-watchers on the lookout for the next "tropical hot spot."

But with this fame came a disintegration of what has made this magical place a jewel in the crown of Caribbean destinations. As record growth along Mexico's Mayan Riviera creeps south, traditional fishing pueblos such as the once-tiny village of Playa del Carmen have become overpriced, overbuilt and overdone.

Luckily, this is not the case with La Zebra Beach Cantina & Cabanas, a nine-cabana beach escape with a retro-jungle vibe that takes visitors back in time to a laidback Tulum of old.

"While a lot of smaller places are remodeling themselves into trendy boutique hotels, guests don't really feel they are having a Mexican beach experience," explains owner John Kendall, an Australian who also owns Tulum's wildly successful Mezzanine hotel and Thai restaurant, which brought a distinctly hip, European stylishness to the quiet town. But when Kendall found the spacious beachfront property of La Zebra, he decided to recapture area's relaxed essence he fell in love with 15 years ago. "At La Zebra you feel that you're actually experiencing Tulum before all the development, with a simplistic, rustic and slightly whimsical flavor," says Kendall.

The first order of the day was renovating all nine rooms to reflect the property's jungle-chic, organic vibe. The result is an eclectic contrast of tongue-in-cheek humor and home-grown natural comfort: Amenities include overhead fans, king size beds featuring soft linens draped with extra roomy mosquito nets, complimentary bottle of tequila, and wireless internet. Interiors are hand-crafted from the elements: cantera stone, local hardwoods, thatched palm and real tree root towel rails.

At the heart of the property is Lena and her sisters, who infuse La Zebra with a feminine energy and create home-cooked, traditional cuisine such as hearty soups and savory empanadas at the Mexican-style cantina. A huge outdoor charcoal grill is the inspiration behind the all-day pit roasts every Sunday that serve up the delectable smoky flavors straight from the grill with salsa dancing to live fusion Latin music. From Thursdays to Sundays, La Zebra's round hardwood deck on the beach plays host to sizzling salsa lessons.

And on tap at the cantina's bar are dozens of the finest tequila, fresh juices and the house specialty, fruity, tropical margaritas. "We want guests to feel that they are in real Mexico when they set foot in La Zebra," says Kendall. "We're not creating a new concept that doesn't fit into the natural energy of Tulum. La Zebra gets back to the basics and lets Tulum's true dynamic shine through."

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Now open: Quinta Palmera Boutique Hotel

Built above a restaurant in Playa's happening international district at Quinta Avenida and 30th Street, this upscale Argentinean-owned executive-style hotel is great for guests that prefer the urban loft-like lifestyle over the scrubby beach ambiance that pervades many of the town's lodging options.
The Quinta Palmera has only six rooms, three with balconies and Jacuzzies and three with indoor jetted tubs. Each unit has modern Mexican architecture with rockwork, marble, work desk, and modern bathroom. They feature cold air conditioning, iPod docks, 26-inch plasma TVs, laptop computers with fast wireless Internet access, electronic safes, and telephones. Guests can order room-service breakfast and get complimentary access to a Mamita's Beach Club with chairs and umbrellas. Room rates range from $120 to $220, depending on the size. Highly recommended.

Direct Contact:
Official website
Phone in MX: 984-803-5007

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Hotel Profile: Casa Ticul Playa del Carmen

Located in the newly bustling northern part of Fifth Avenue (Quinta between 38th and 40th Streets) this independently owned adults-only boutique hotel opened in early 2008. It is named after an old Yucatan city 60 miles south of Merida known for its clay pottery and leather shoes, but the environs here are decidedly more contemporary. The cozy lobby feels like a stylish home in 1940s Europe and the quaint courtyard with a small pool and sundeck looks especially charming after the sun goes down.

The 20 rooms are thoroughly modern, with dark wood furnishings, luxury bedding with pillow-top mattresses, large flat-screen TVs, powerful air conditioning, minibars, safes, nice bathrooms with rainshowers and plenty of hot water, bedside slippers, radio alarmclocks, diffused lighting and complimentary wireless Internet access, even by the pool.

Across the street is a large condo complex and there are many shops, restaurants and bars within easy walking distance. A great stretch of beach, backed by luxury hotels and beach clubs, is just two and a half blocks away and the ferry dock and town square are about a mile and a half to the south. Rates range from $130 to $220. Highly recommended.

Direct Contact:
Casa Ticul Hotel
MX: 984-267-3501

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Now open: Om Tulum Cabanas & Beach Club

Operated by the same team that runs the uber-popular Om Hotel & Lounge in Playa del Carmen, the newly opened Om Tulum promises the same trendy casual attitude, plus a picturesque beachfront location that makes it even better. The hotel is about five miles south of the Tulum crossroads and seven miles from the ruins. It includes nine cabanas with an ocean or garden view, a restaurant, lounge and beach club.

The rooms feature ocean or garden views, private bathrooms and comfy beds. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves Caribbean seafood, including fresh fish delivered daily by local fishermen. There is also wood-oven pizza, plus chicken and meat dishes.

The beach club fronts a picture-perfect white sand beach with smooth sand and lapping waves. It is open from 10am to 6pm and offers lounge chairs and beachfront cabanas. The lounge is open nightly until 2am, offering a new place for area visitors to listen to chill-out music, enjoy a cocktail and make new friends. The facility is available for private parties, weddings and other group events.

Room rates range from $80 in low season to $115 during high season. There is electricity in the rooms until 1am. The hotel's tour desk offers kite surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, yoga, massage and other activities. Free Internet service is available to guests. Rooms can be reserved online, but all local charges are cash only.

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Riviera Maya Tops 32,000 Rooms

This month, the number of rooms in the Riviera Maya has topped 32,000. Significant recent openings include the 408-room first hotel of the Spanish chain Valentin and the 401-room Fairmont Mayakoba. Though this represents impressive growth for the year, it's actually less than was forecast, due to the delay of some projects for financial and environmental assessment delays.

Major openings for early 2008 include the 128-room Rosewood Mayakoba and the 142-room Viceroy Mayakoba. The forecast for 2008 calls for the creation of an additional 2800 rooms, bringing the Riviera Maya total to nearly 35,000.

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